____
At this time, a much larger storm was approaching the brightly lit capital with no warning.
____
Chang Geng stood stiff for a long time, then, he stepped forward to the edge of the hot spring, slowly knelt down, carefully looking at the ma.s.s of scars and wounds on Gu Yun’s body.
Over the years, he had become accustomed to being awakened by the Bone of Impurity in the middle of the night, and every time, he would always think about Gu Yun.
Chang Geng had favored peacefulness since he was a child. At that time, he often felt that this overly lively yifu was impossible to be reasoned with. Later, after he pondered more and more, he suddenly had a strange question: Gu Yun…how could he grow into such a person?
Thinking about it, he himself was the only son of the Old Marquis and the First Princess, he should have been the most arrogant n.o.ble of all, how precious and prestigious his status could be.
He suddenly lost his sight and hearing when he was a small child, he was forced by his father’s whip to run forward. The wings that had not been fully grown had been tattered by injuries, and he even had to endure the loss of his mother and father. The Black Iron Camp’s glory from the past now turned incredibly bleak, being trapped deep inside the forbidden palace… if a person suffered too much damage at a young age, even if one did not turn out to be cold and negative, at least they would not become so playful.
When it came to this matter, Chang Geng had personally experienced it himself.
Sometimes, it was difficult for him to imagine: how many layers of wounds should overlap in order to hone a person like this?
Chang Geng suddenly felt incredibly hateful — why must he be born ten years too late, not having the opportunity to hold tightly the small childish hand of this person in the midst of thorns from all sides? For this reason alone, he felt that he would be jealous of Shen Yi for all his life.
As if the devil has blinded his eyes, he moved forward, swept aside Gu Yun’s long wet hair scattered all over, carefully and hesitantly touching the scar cutting across his chest.
“Ouch…” Gu Yun felt his scalp tingling at his touch, quickly moved to hide away: “I’m trying to talk reason with you, how come you started to get touchy with your hands?”
Chang Geng asked, his voice hoa.r.s.e: “How did you get this?”
This deaf man wasn’t able to hear it at the beginning. Chang Geng caught his hand and wrote it again in his palm.
Gu Yun was taken aback, momentarily unable to remember.
Chang Geng wiped away the fog on his Liuli gla.s.s and returned it to Gu Yun’s nose. He stared at him deep in the eyes and said through sign language: “Yifu, can we each confess one thing honestly to one another?”
Gu Yun frowned.
Chang Geng: “You have deep feelings for the former Emperor. Do you want to kiss him, hold him, and intimately entangle with him for a lifetime?”
Gu Yun was shocked: “What?”
He couldn’t help but recall the old withered face of the former Emperor always cast in layers of sorrow, and felt gooseb.u.mps arising all over.
“Alright, you already answered, my turn.” Chang Geng then said with a pure-hearted expression, “I want to.”
Gu Yun: “…”
It took him a while to understand the meaning of Chang Geng’s ‘I want to’. The first wave of gooseb.u.mps had not even subsided, yet the next wave already arose, his hairs standing up all at once resembling a hedgehog.
“There is not a single moment where I do not want to, even in my dreams, especially right now…there are several other things I want, and I am afraid that they will only dirty yifu’s ears, I will not mention them.” Chang Geng closed his eyes, no longer looking at Gu Yun, continuing to sign: “If I did not sink so deep, how would I be worthy of the words ‘succ.u.mb to madness?'”
Gu Yun was speechless for a long time, only managing to respond after a while, his voice dry: “…you should go read more scripture with the monks.”
Chang Geng: “It would be great if you have said these words to me five years ago, perhaps I will be able to let go and what happened today would not have happened.”
However, so many days and nights have pa.s.sed, so many nightmares and mud that could only be withstood by reciting Gu Yun’s name. Repeatedly, he had been drinking poison to quench his thirst –
It’s already too late.
The Marquis of Order who was a slowpoke and was always a half-beat behind still hasn’t come back to his senses, shockingly thinking to himself inside: “I still a.s.sumed you were only a little brat whose mouth still reeks of milk!”
“Then for my next question,” Chang Geng closed his eyes tightly. “Does yifu think I am disgusting?”
Gu Yun was silent for a long time. Chang Geng’s eyelashes trembled fiercely, both his hands involuntarily tightened together inside his sleeves — Gu Yun’s physical reaction just now was unmistakable, the obvious discomfort had shown clearly in the gooseb.u.mps on his skin.
Gu Yun might understand his heart, but perhaps he would never understand his desires.
Chang Geng heard the sound of the water. Gu Yun had come up to the sh.o.r.e and put on his clothes.
Gu Yun sighed, reached out and patted Chang Geng’s shoulder, calmly replying in avoidance: “You know that is impossible.”
Chang Geng’s lips slightly curled up, maybe it was intended to show a lighthearted smile, but he completely failed, he could only reply in a whisper: “I know, I will not make it difficult for yifu.”
Gu Yun sat down beside him, and for a while, he felt that he was a little slower and was about to speak.
Suddenly, he could sense that there was an unusually sharp wind surging forward, aiming at his back. The cup that Chang Geng placed on the side reflected a flash of razor-edged glint. Gu Yun hadn’t had time to react, but Chang Geng had already rushed towards him.
Chang Geng grabbed him and rolled to the side, his arms tightening. At the same time, Gu Yun’s keen nose could catch a faint scent of blood.
An arrow with white steam that still hadn’t spread at its tail grazed past Chang Geng, tearing his long sleeves open, revealing the wounded flesh inside.
Chang Geng looked up. Outside the quiet hot spring, a sharp metallic color flashed past: it was a ‘Light Armor’!
The hot springs and the Northern Camp were only five miles away, even as one did not have to rush their horse, they would arrive in a moment. Where did this a.s.sa.s.sin come from?
The a.s.sa.s.sin did not succeed in his first move, but still he did not give up.
The heavy sunset has fallen to the west, the a.s.sa.s.sin who just shot the arrow jumped over the courtyard wall.
White steam surged from beneath his feet, and like lightning, he appeared in front of them in the blink of an eye. Gu Yun pushed Chang Geng aside, reached out and pulled out a steel sword from under the small table where the wine was, instantly crossing two moves with the a.s.sa.s.sin.
Gu Yun’s skills were honed by clashing barehanded with iron puppets. Even though the Light Armor burned Ziliujin, he did not pay it any mind. However, after two moves, Gu Yun suddenly retreated back – he was shocked to find his hand shaking, overwhelmed by the weight of the steel sword.
Chang Geng could see at a glance that something was off. He reached for him and grasped his wrist, borrowing the sword in his hand, fiercely and accurately stabbing the a.s.sa.s.sin from his jaw. The tip of the sword directly pierced through the iron mask of the a.s.sa.s.sin, blood spurted out.
Chang Geng did not look at him. His fingers immediately slipped onto Gu Yun’s pulse, saying in a low tone: “Someone had poisoned you.”
Gu Yun’s chest felt numb, his heart squirting wildly inside. He let out a groan, momentarily unable to breathe. The numb sensation quickly spread to all his limbs, causing even someone like himself who could not see and hear to tense up considerably.
“It’s nothing,” Gu Yu gasped for breath. “I’m afraid it’s not finished yet, you…”
His crow mouth had just finished speaking when a dozen of Light Armors appeared on top of the wall. At the same time, the soldiers guarding outside had also been alerted, charging forward.
There was no telling what was going on in those a.s.sa.s.sins’ minds. They did not flee even after their failed attempt, continuing to clash with the guards.
The guards of the Marquis’s manor were soldiers retired from the battlefield, they could not be compared to the ordinary house guards, advancing and retreating with precision, extremely mobile. Chang Geng glanced at the battlefield that had completely leaned over one side, helping Gu Yun to the side: “Yifu…”
Gu Yun raised a finger to his mouth and patted him on the shoulder, he gently held his injured arm and motioned for him to take care of himself first.
Chang Geng did not pay attention to it, knelt down on one side and grabbed Gu Yun’s wrist. At this moment, his pulse had returned to its order. Chang Geng tried to steady his mind, remembering that Gu Yun himself resembled a medicine jar, his resistance to drugs was much stronger than the average person.
It won’t be so easy to knock him down completely. Perhaps just now as he was soaked in hot water, its effect had kicked in.
At this time, there was a loud noise in the courtyard. The entire mountain village shook. Even the half-dead Gu Yun was able to hear it.
It only took a moment, the a.s.sa.s.sins were already defeated by the well-trained family guards. When the commander ordered for them to be arrested, all the a.s.sa.s.sins simultaneously pierced the golden box on their Light Armors and exploded!
Gu Yun narrowed his not-so-useful eyes, lowering his voice: “Suicidal soldiers…”
The commander instructed people to put out the fire while running to Gu Yun: “Your subordinate is incompetent, The Marquis and His Highness please retreat first.”
Gu Yun did not say anything, it seemed as if his mind was still somewhere far away.
For a time, his old memories that have long faded over the years were cruelly ripped out, his blood ran like water, baring its fangs, viciously surging up in front of him — the deeper in time something was, the clearer it would be.
That year, the blowing wind was engulfed in murderous intent, black irons covered one’s sight, near and far were the scenery of withered and dreary pasture, flocks of vulture hovered when riding the horse among the high gra.s.s, it only took a few steps to land on white bones still marked with the tooth print of beasts.
Little Gu Yun who had not yet reached the height of a table — was being punished by the old Marquis for a meager mistake. He was to stand inside the camp and not allowed to eat breakfast. Any soldier pa.s.sing by could not stop themselves from laughing as they caught sight of him, causing the tears of the boy whose pride was already vast from an early age to be suppressed inside, he would rather die than to let them fall.
At that time, the war had subsided, the Ziliujin tribute of the 18 tribes had already entered the national treasury, the G.o.ddess had been bestowed the status of the Royal Consort. Everything should have been peaceful…
Suddenly, a patrolling guard fell down on the side of little Gu Yun without warning. He was wearing Heavy Armor, his body bore no injury. The guards in his camp then collapsed one by one, the sound of fighting and shouting came abruptly from the outside. Little Gu Yun had never met with such a terrifying scene before. Momentarily stunned from fear, he instinctively wanted to find a weapon.
But he was too small, even with both hands, he could not afford to lift even the lightest sword.
The people charging in that day was also a group of suicidal warriors dressed in Light Armor. They acted as swiftly as the wind, approaching like the devils. One soldier who just now was still making fun of him struggled to rise up, like a dying bird, and protected little Gu Yun under his body.
He could still remember the image clearly even now — he had had his eyes wide open, staring at the soldiers who resembled pigs waiting to be slaughtered, they all fell down inside the camp, one by one, in a heap of flesh and blood. He could feel something strike at his back, the pain caused his heart to tighten.
However, the pain would soon become numb. Gradually, he felt as if his limbs had all been cut off from his body, all the sounds and colors in his surroundings were gone, everything all faded. The consciousness that was soon to be scattered and the pounding heart that seemed to break his chest weaved together, he could not breathe…
He remembered he had also heard that same earth-shattering noise in a state of half-consciousness — the Princess had arrived, and those people blew themselves up with their armors.
Chang Geng held his shoulder: “Yifu!”
Gu Yun’s gaze with absolutely no focus finally concentrated a little, he murmured: “Is there a wolf head tattoo on the bodies that had not been burnt yet?”
Chang Geng: “What?”
The commander was startled, suddenly lifted his head. Regarding this matter, the Gu family guards had a much deeper impression compared to Gu Yun who was still a child at that time: “The Marquis means to say…”
“When the fire had been put out, go check it,” Gu Yun said with a blank expression. “Also the person who had used poison…”
Feeling that the effect of the drug in his body was gradually fading, he supported himself with Chang Geng’s arm and stand up.
Chang Geng was shocked to find that his hand was as cold as a corpse, but Gu Yun releases his hold in an instant, almost seeming as if he did not want to come in contact with any person.
Gu Yun soullessly stepped forward. His Liuli gla.s.s had shattered moments before, his eyes were no good, almost stepping into the hot spring pool as a result. Chang Geng rarely ever become so unstable, he instantly jumped up, holding Gu Yun from behind and escorting him all the way to the quarters.
Gu Yun’s spirit had gone far away, he did not avoid his grasp.
Chang Geng helped him into the room, pulling a thin blanket over him. He wanted to check his pulse again when Gu Yun suddenly said: “Give me medicine.”
Chang Geng frowned: “No, inside your body there still is…”
Gu Yun’s complexion turned bleach, increasing his tone of voice: “I said bring me my medicine.”
Chang Geng was startled, instinctively understanding that Gu Yun was truly angry now.
A quiet sigh of murderous intent leaked out, the tyranny of thousands of iron armors weaved into Gu Yun’s pair of blind eyes. For a time, this handsome man appeared like an awoken statue of a demon, but only for a moment.
Gu Yun quickly recovered, his expression easing up. He searched around and patted Chang Geng’s hand: “Go tend to your injury first, then help me bring my medicine — not listening to me anymore, hm?”
Chang Geng was quiet for a moment, then upon turning to leave, he punched the pillar at the door.
At this time, a much larger storm was approaching the brightly lit capital with no warning.
At night, in a narrow alley, a thin haired elderly man finally glanced at his suicide letter on the table then hung himself on the beam of the house, ending his already withered life in the morning light.
As his heart was in an disorder, Gu Yun had forgotten to order the guards commander to block the news. The hot springs and the Northern Camp could almost be considered as neighbors, words quickly spread out like carried by wings.
Tan Hong Fei — the commander of the Northern Camp located in the suburbs of the capital — used to belong to the old faction of the Black Iron Camp. When hearing that his Marshal had an attempted a.s.sa.s.sination right inside this crucial territory, right under his watch, he was utterly furious, personally leading one branch of the camp to conduct a thorough investigation.
No one would be able to hide such a large incident. In a flash, the news regarding Gu Yun had run far and wide, and this was only the beginning.
The next day, Gu Yun regained his eyesight and hearing. When he remembered his own mistake, it was too late — Tan Hong fei had directly charged into the capital with his men.
The mayor who was deep in a mess was forced by General Tan to turn over the capital, investigating any suspected individuals arriving from outside. The messenger sent by Gu Yun to drag Tan Hong Fei back had just gotten off his horse, yet an unexpected person had already brought forth a suicide letter and sounded the drum.
The messenger did not dare to enter the mayor’s manor, he could only send someone to inform them. Who would have expected that this place was already incredibly chaotic, and only after a long wait of one incense did someone finally led him inside.
But before he had the chance to speak, the commander of the Northern Camp Tan Hong Fei stood up abruptly, his eyes seemingly wanted to explode, cracking the table from one smash of his hand and causing the hat of Mayor Zhu who was sitting at his side to almost drop from fear.
Tan Hong Fei: “Who are you? Say it again!”
The middle-aged man holding up the suicide letter with both hands clearly spoke each words: “This peasant is a pastry shop owner outside the eastern suburbs. Our family has an old adoptive father who originally served under Emperor Yuan He — eunuch Wu He.
“Many years ago, in order to avoid a misfortune, he had found someone to die in his stead. Luckily, he was able to escape from the palace. Since then, he been hiding among the common folks. But even after more than a decade, he was still discovered by the people bearing ill intention, to avoid involving the family, he had taken his own life last night.”
“This peasant is as trivial as a firefly, as fragile as a gra.s.s, my puny life isn’t worth mentioning. But even so, my deceased father had left behind his instruction, for me to bring this horrifying injustice to light for the whole world to see!”
Mayor Zhu Heng instinctively realized that this would be an incredibly important matter, he hurriedly shouted: “How daring of you to talk nonsense! That year, eunuch Wu He had soon been locked inside prison for his crime of harming the Third Prince and was later executed. Are you blaming Da Li Temple for they had falsely charged him?”
The man bowed his head to the ground and respond: “This peasant has in possession the suicide letter personally written by my father before his death. Right now as I brought this head here to see you, there is not a single hint of dishonesty in my words!”
Back then, eunuch Wu He had accepted bribes, as if he had turn mad, allying with a disfavored consort to plot the death of the Third Prince. This matter had once been a boiling topic, and as it involved Gu Yun who was still in the palace at that time, the subordinates belonging to the old faction of the Black Iron Camp wished nothing more than to cut the old mindless eunuch into pieces.
Tan Hong Fei’s expression darkened: “Master Zhu, let us listen to what he has to say.”
Gu Yun’s messenger could instinctively feel something was about to break out, remembering the instruction of ‘don’t let Tan Hong Fei cause trouble’ before his departure, He immediately made a decision: “General Tan, the Marquis had asked for you to return to camp immediately.”
Zhu Heng instantly followed suit: “Yes, General Tan please go back first. If there are any information regarding those criminals, I will immediately send someone to inform the general…”
At this moment, the middle-aged man who was kneeling down suddenly spoke: “This peasant wishes to accuse former Emperor Yuan He, for he had been entranced by the wicked Consort of the Northern Barbarians, using treacherous tactics to harm loyal subjects…”